Frederick ratcliff



(No Model.)

' F. RATGLIPP. GOFPIN HANDLE.

N0. 545,722. Patented Sept. 3, 1895.

@Awlek 7 NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

FREDERICK RATCLIFF, OF NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THEPAIRPOINT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

COFFlN HANDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 545,722, datedSeptember 3, 1895.

Application filed June 21, 1 8 93.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK RATCLIFF, of New Bedford, in the county ofBristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Ears for Coffin and other Handles, of which the followingis a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a top plan, Fig. 2 a bottom plan, and Fig. 3 a sectionon line 3 3 of Fig. 1, of an ear containing one embodiment of my inven-Mom.

The object of my invention is to give strength, rigidity, and increasedsecurity to the ears which form part of the coffin and other handles.

My invention consists in the combination of an exterior with anauxiliary loosely-inserted inner ear having an extension within theexterior ear and provided with projections which extend into thearm-opening of the'exterior car, all as more fully set forthhereinafter,

In the drawings showing the preferred embodiment of my invention, a, isone form of ear, made of soft metal, as usual, and a the projections ortrunnions thereof, through the holes of which passes the pin by whichthe arm is hinged, as will be readily understood by all skilled in theart. To give increased strength to cars of this sort, I combine withthis old and well-known ear an interior ear Serial No. 478,386. (Nomodel.)

b, of tough metalsheet-iron, for example This interior ear is providedwith projections 12, which are perforated at b to coincide with thepintle-holes in trunnions a. The interior ear is formed with anextension within the exterior ear, and reinforces that part of theexterior ear which is formed with the screwholes 0, The extension of theinterior ear is formed with screw-holes 6 which are coincident with thescrew-holes a. By this construction the ear is secured to the coffin ina greatly improved manner, the tough metal interior ear taking thegreater part of the strain. Of course the extension of the ear may bevaried in shape and size, and the number of screw-holes will vary indifierent constructions.

What I claim is- As a new article of manufacture, a casket handle earhaving perforated projections in combination with a loosely insertedinterior reinforcing ear having perforated projections and an extendedarm opposed to the bottom of the outer ear, each perforated projectionof i the reinforcing ear being opposed to a perforated projection of theouter ear, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

FREDERICK RATCLIFF.

Witnesses WM. R. HARRIS, FRANCIS K. ALLEN.

